South China Sea ruling deepens tensions between US, China

A landmark international tribunal ruling on the South China Sea threatens to sharpen the differences between the United States and China, highlighting a growing gulf between the world powers.

In contrast, US officials expressed hope that Tuesday's ruling, which rejected the legal basis of China's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea, could provide an impetus to diplomacy.

The ruling in a case brought by the Philippines was "an important contribution to the shared goal of a peaceful resolution to disputes in the South China Sea," said Daniel Kritenbrink, the White House policy director for Asia.

He spoke at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank, and his comments reflected how the South China Sea is increasingly the spoiler in relations between the US and China.